Buy Your Own Private Island in Vermont for the Price of a One Bedroom in NYC

The 8.4-acre Cedar Island is coming to the auction block with a starting price of $850,000

By Fang BlockOriginally published on September 23, 2016|Mansion Global|

In Vermont, summer is officially over and ski season is yet to come, but in between there is always beautiful fall foliage, and now a good opportunity to buy a private island.

Cedar Island, located at the archipelago of northern Lake Champlain, heads to the auction block Oct. 12. Previously listed for $1.7 million, the 8.4-acre property will be sold at or above $850,000, according to luxury auctioning house Concierge Auctions, which handles the sale. (Keep in mind that the median price of a one-bedroom condo in Manhattan is $992,000, according to Miller Samuel and Douglas Elliman Real Estate.)

On Cedar Island, the main residence sits on the highest point. It has five bedrooms and two bathrooms, featuring panton stone fireplaces with wood stove, vaulted pine ceilings and cherry hardwood floors.

Outdoors, there is a lounge area with a fireplace, a deck with hot tub, a gazebo overlooking the pastoral lawn and a red clay tennis court. There is also a one-bedroom, one-bathroom guest cottage and an artist cottage on the property.

“It is such a unique property,” said Laura Brady, president of Concierge Auctions.

This is not the first private island the firm auctioned. Innocence Island, the largest privately-held island in the Exuma chain of the Bahamas, was sold by Concierge for $18.7 million in 2014, according to Ms. Brady.

“The elevated vantage of point has 360-degree view of Lake Champlain with deep and crystal clear water, the Green Mountains and Adirondacks,” said listing agent Kathy O’Brien of Four Seasons Sotheby’s International Realty.

In addition, the island has easy access to modern amenities. It is a five-minute boat ride to the mainland marina in South Hero and about 16 miles outside of Burlington. “It is a truly serene mental getaway,” said Ms. O’Brien. “You are close to everything, but away from the crowd.”

Ms. O’Brien declined to name the current owner but said they are a family from Connecticut who has used the getaway island for about 10 years.